Giuliano Simeone starts for Argentina in their World Cup semi-final against England tonight, offering a throwback to one of the fixture’s most contentious moments.

England and Argentina share a rivalry that is deeper than just the football and until this tournament have not met in a competitive match since the 2002 World Cup.

Advertisement

England and Argentina also played in a controversial last-16 tie at the 1998 World Cup, which saw David Beckham sent off for kicking out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone.

Diego Simeone, the combustible coach of Spanish club Atletico Madrid, is the father of Giuliano Simeone, who is Argentina’s only change for tonight’s semi-final in Atalanta.

Beckham’s red card against Argentina in 1998 came after he fell into Simeone’s trap and was provoked by the midfielder, with the Englishman kicking out at him after a foul.

Beckham was sent off, in the lowest moment of his career, with 10-man England getting knocked out by Argentina on penalties.

Advertisement

Giuliano Simeone, 23, is a winger who plays under his father at Atletico Madrid. He will be making just his second appearance of the World Cup as a replacement for Rodrigo De Paul.

He was born in Rome while his father was playing for Italian club Lazio but grew up in Argentina before moving to Atletico Madrid to be with his father in 2019.

Diego Simeone, who made 108 appearances for his country, has been seen watching Argentina’s matches throughout this World Cup, and was even pictured smiling with Beckham in Miami.